You are here

Justice News

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Two MS-13 Gang Members Charged with Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Other Charges

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury sitting in Nashville, Tennessee today, returned a five-count indictment, charging two members of the MS-13 gang with murder in aid of racketeering, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District of Tennessee.

Oscar Degaldo Flores, aka Flaco, 24, of El Salvador, and Luis Colindres, aka Listo and Joe, 21, of Honduras, were also charged with conspiracy; witness tampering; using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and causing death through the use of a firearm.

The indictment alleges that on Sept. 24, 2017, Flores and Colindres shot and killed an individual identified as “H.Z.” and also shot and killed another individual identified as “Y.H.,” in order to prevent that individual from communicating with law enforcement about the commission of their crimes, including the murder of “H.Z.”

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Trial Attorney Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah and Sunny A.M. Koshy of the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.